- None stated. Owners working on the home they own and live in, and work on residential window units, are exempt.
- Master: two years as a journeyman under a master, two years as a master elsewhere, or two years as a licensed mechanical engineer. Journeyman: two years of HVAC work under a master, or two documented years of HVAC work. One year means at least 1,500 hours.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year, filed by the last day of your birth month. A late renewal is accepted up to 60 days after expiration with a restoration fee. Proof of annual continuing education under 815 KAR 2:010 is required.
Do you need a state license in Kentucky?
Kentucky licenses HVAC work at the state level through the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Division of HVAC. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
None stated. Owners working on the home they own and live in, and work on residential window units, are exempt.
17 local programs have been granted HVAC jurisdiction. Elsewhere, HVAC permits are bought from the state Division of HVAC.
Kentucky license types for HVAC work
Kentucky splits the work into 3 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Master HVAC Contractor | Runs HVAC contracting. Can buy HVAC permits online. Must carry the required insurance. |
| Journeyman HVAC Mechanic | Installs, maintains and repairs heating and cooling, burner service and hydronic systems. |
| Apprentice HVAC Mechanic | Registered trainee credited for hours under a master and journeyman. |
Steps to get licensed in Kentucky
- Register as an apprentice with HBC and log hours under a master HVAC contractor.
- After two years of HVAC work, send the exam registration form and fee to HBC and pass the journeyman exam.
- Apply for the journeyman license and pay $50.
- After two years as a journeyman under a master, pass the master exam.
- Send the master application, $250 fee and proof of $500,000 liability and $300,000 property damage insurance.
- Buy permits through the HBC SmartGov portal and renew yearly by the end of your birth month with continuing education.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. Master: two years as a journeyman under a master, two years as a master elsewhere, or two years as a licensed mechanical engineer. Journeyman: two years of HVAC work under a master, or two documented years of HVAC work. One year means at least 1,500 hours.
The license to apply for. Master HVAC Contractor.
Kentucky HVAC exams
Trade exam. Department exams for journeyman and master, both open book. Pass with 70%. A passing score is good for three years.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Separate from any state license, the EPA requires Section 608 certification for anyone who works on equipment with refrigerant. It is federal and applies in every state.
What it costs in Kentucky
The board lists 8 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Master license (12 months) | $250 |
| Master renewal | $250 |
| Journeyman license (12 months) | $50 |
| Journeyman renewal | $50 |
| Master exam | $150 |
| Journeyman exam | $50 |
| Master restoration (late renewal) | $125 |
| Journeyman restoration (late renewal) | $25 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. General liability of at least $500,000 and property damage of at least $300,000, from a carrier approved in Kentucky. Proof is due before the license issues or renews. The state policy covers you for local licensing too.
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year, filed by the last day of your birth month. A late renewal is accepted up to 60 days after expiration with a restoration fee. Proof of annual continuing education under 815 KAR 2:010 is required.
Reciprocity. Reciprocity applicants must meet the terms of the reciprocity agreement between Kentucky and the state where they are licensed.
Good to know in Kentucky
- An HVAC permit is needed for all initial HVAC installs in commercial buildings and one-, two- and multi-family homes. Online permits are only for licensed master contractors.
- Bring the National Fuel Gas Code plus the International Residential Code (journeyman) or International Mechanical Code (master) to the open-book exam.
- EPA Section 608 certification is a federal requirement for anyone who handles refrigerant.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for HVAC repair near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, Division of HVAC and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how HVAC companies run on Koira.